By Tim Carson A common confession among church-goers is, “I am a rat saved by grace.” When someone makes this confession it does not trouble me. I simply believe he is a rat, and I keep on guard around him. But when someone makes the confession, “We are all rats saved by grace,” I must respond with the truth of the gospel. This article is written to answer the question, “Do rats go to heaven?” The Bible tells us we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, but the Bible also tells us Jesus was manifested to take away our sins and that whosoever abides in him does not sin. In other words, when Christ comes into a person's life, the old man and the old ways of sin are crucified and thenew life of Christ within is manifested. The Bible says if any man is in Christ the old things are passed away and all things become new. The Bible also tells us they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh and the desires and lusts of the flesh. So how did the confession, “I am a rat saved by grace” become the banner of the church world? The short answer is one error leads to another error. Most church-goers do not know what a Christian is. A real Christian is someone who has become the temple of God and Jesus lives the victorious lifewithin, but most church-goers say a Christian is someone who has said the sinner's prayer or done some other churchy deed. Reciting the sinner's prayer does not save a person anymore than saying the rosary imparts grace. Salvation is a gift that no man can take by any action on his own. Salvation is a gift thatno man can receive unless it is given by the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. The Bible says to Christians, “And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Salvation is a work that God does in the believer's heart, and only God can do it. The truth is many people say the sinner's prayer, and Jesus does not answer the prayer. Come on people! Jesus is God! He sees the heart and can discern true repentance. Sadly, most churches are full of people who have said the sinner's prayer and done the other outward churchy deeds, but Jesus has never accepted them and therefore they have never been quickened into newness of life. Most churches are full of unconverted sinners and most pastors are unconverted sinners. This is why “We are all rats saved by grace” is their confession. The real Christian has been quickened into newness of life. The real Christian is a new creature and is walking in newness of life. The real Christian lives a victorious life. The real Christian is given the victory over sin. Rats do not go to heaven. If you are still a rat forget about the churchy things you have done, and start calling out to Jesus in repentance until He accepts you. How will you know when he accepts you? When Jesus Christ accepts you, He will quicken you into newness of life. Jesus will change your taste buds so that you have no desire to be a rat any longer, but rather you will have a desire to be a blessing in life and your new confession will be, “I delight to do Your will, dear Jesus.” Hey Tim, what about the carnal nature? The carnal nature is always with us until the resurrection, and is in subjection to the cross of Christ in the life of the true Christian. However the carnal nature prevails at times of temptation in the life of the unconverted church-goer. Hey Tim, do Christians sin? The first epistle of John speaks to Christians of different levels of maturity. The little children battle with sin and are forgiven for the namesake of Jesus. The young men are strong and the word of God abides within them, and they have overcome the devil and sin. The fathers know the final goal is to have fellowship with God. Many church-goers never get beyond the baby stage of battling sin and know nothing of the victorious life. So yes, baby Christians still sin, but those who are mature have overcome sin. Hey Tim, how can I become a mature Christian and live the victorious life? In your own strength you will fail. Think of Peter. Peter was determined to be faithful unto death, but he failed completely. You need the Holy Ghost. Sadly, most church-goers are taught to reject and blaspheme the Holy Ghost. If you are willing to be a Bible-believer and seek God for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Bible promises God will give the Holy Ghost to those who obey Him.